Embedded computing systems touch every aspect of life. These synergistic combinations of hardware and software, designed to perform specific functions, can be found in a host of items in everyday use, from digital signs in stores to in-car GPS receivers to HVAC systems with networked thermostats. With the growing popularity of personalized, interactive, real- time technology, we expect to see a corresponding rise in demand for specialized embedded computing systems to support a broad range of new applications—including many that have not yet been envisioned.

With this future demand in mind, Intel is launching a new research center to advance the field of embedded computing. The Intel Science and Technology Center for Embedded Computing (ISTC-EC) will bring together top thought leaders to develop breakthrough innovations that will transform experiences in the retail, automotive and home environments of the future. Focusing on the domains where people spend much of their time and financial resources will increase the likelihood that the center’s research can be transferred into high-impact applications that will be widely adopted and relevant to our everyday lives.

The ISTC-EC is one of a series of research collaborations that Intel is establishing with U.S. universities to identify and prototype revolutionary technology opportunities. The centers are designed to encourage closer collaboration among academic thought leaders in essential technology areas.

The ISTC-EC will bring together university researchers who are leaders in the field of embedded computing. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) will be the hub of the center, coordinating research among several other universities, including Cornell, the University of Illinois-- Urbana-Champaign, the University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, Georgia Tech, and the University of California, Berkeley (UCB).